Jimmy and his companion were in the middle of packing up their tents in Coolabah Swamp, off Stott Terrace, this morning.

Visiting Alice Springs from Nyrripi Community, Jimmy said he would go to his sister's house.

Friends who were helping Harry move said council rangers had come and taken blankets and billycans.

"They don't like aboriginal people camping here," they said.

On 783 Mornings', Craig Catchlove, Director of Corporate and Community Services at Alice Springs Town Council confirmed that rangers were moving people on. Speaking with Mornings Presenter, Alex Barwick, Craig said that rangers have been confiscating tents and removing goods.

"It is illegal, it is against the bylaws to be camping within a public place and the river is a public place and thus the rangers' role is to move people on," said Mr Catchlove.

"We are not going to allow a permanent or semi permanent squatters camp to become part of the Alice Springs environs," he said.

Fines are not being implemented however, because Craig says council is "aware of the housing crisis.'

Craig said the $266 fine is not being enforced at present but will come into play when the Alice Springs Visitor Accommodation Park, south of the Gap, opens later this month.

"Things like bedding and all that kind of thing is taken to Tangentyerre, but tents are confiscated at this point," he said.

Toni Vine Bromley, Executive Officer of NT Shelter says it's unacceptable that tents were being removed and not returned. She said it was a case of 'penalising people with very little means.'

"The tents are the property of the people who've actually purchased them...I would think that they should have some sort of means to get them back," she said.